I just fully upgraded my 8.1 retail version and now have the box in the bottom right hand corner which says get windows 10. If I accept the upgrade, will my retail license for 8.1 be locked to windows 10 home version? Will I still have full use of my 8.1 discs and license key? The reason I ask is I have a laptop with 8.1 factory OEM on it. I want to be able to switch back to my retail 8.1 if, I don't like the win. 10 and, also use the 8.1 disc to run a clean install on the laptop which belongs to my wife in case it ever needs it. If I will loose my retail license for my 8.1 by accepting the win. 10 upgrade, I'd rather just order the win. 10 home retail version on flash drive. Thanks!
I did the free upgrade to Windows 10 from a Retail key. I was able to reinstall windows 8.1 with that key and activate with no issues after that. The version of Windows 10 you get via the free upgrade depends on what OS you upgrade from. If it's 7 Pro or higher, or 8/8.1 Pro, you get 10 Pro. 7 Home Premium or lower or 8/8.1 Core gets you 10 Home. As far as I know you do not lose the right to go back the original OS you were using before the upgrade. The free upgrade gets you a digital entitlement. go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Product Key and you'll see what I mean. It's not tied to an actual product code. If you use a keyfinder to check your product key it will show a generic key that is issued to anybody that does the free upgrade. There is a generic home key and a generic Pro key. All my PC's have the same generic Pro key. They all have digital entitlements for 10 Pro. They were upgrades from 8.1 Pro.
